Suction cleaner



April 21, 1942. w. H.' K11-ro sUc'rIoN CLEANER Original Filed Feb. 18, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR uff/[121m IYI nl" ldfdl..

ATTORNEY April 21, l942- w. H. K11-To Re. 22,077

SUCTION CLEANER Original Filed Feb. 18, 1937 2 Sheets-Shut 2 INVINTOR ATTORNIY Reissue Apr. 2l, 1942 S UCTION CLEANER William H. Kltto, Canton, Ohio, asslgnor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation i' Ohio Original No. 2,159,701. dated May 23, 1939, Serial No. 126,392, February 18, 1937. Application for reissue December 21, 1940, Serial No. 372,161

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10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in suction cleaners and more particularly to a type of cleaner in which a novel arrangement is provided for conducting a vcurrent of cooling air through the motor and thence discharging it into the atmosphere through a passage formed as a part of a dome-like cover or hood enclosing the motor.

.y The object oi' the invention is to provide a novel and improved solution of the problem of cooling the motor of a suction cleaner characterized by a somewhat larger hood over the motor than is usually provided and one that is extended lengthwise of the cleaner body a. distance forwardly and rearwardly of the motor, thus giving the cleaner a so-called stream-lined appearance.

It may be added in this connection that the scheme of Ventilating a motor is notoriously old l and motors designed for suction cleaners have long been made with a small fan mounted on the armature shaft for promoting the now of air through the motor and as a means of dissipating the heat generated by the motor. However. in a cleaner of the design heretofore alluded to, the

problem of conducting air to and from the motor is somewhat complicated by the hood design and ihence the following description has to do with the solution of this problem in a simple and practical manner.

In the accompanying drawings two arrangements for conducting the air from the motor to the atmosphere have been illustrated and will be described in the following discussion.

Thus, the gures of the drawings may be briefly described as follows:

Figure 1 is a general View in side elevation of a suction cleaner embodying the novel features of the invention with portions broken away to show the internal construction;

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section through the motor and hood as taken on line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the inside of the motor hood removed from the cleaner body;

Figure 4 is a view of the motor casing and hood in vertical section and showing a modled a1'- rangement for discharging the air from the motor;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view 0f the forward end of the motor hood with a portion of its top wall broken away to show the arrangement of the parts therebelow;

Figure 6 is a detailed view ln vertical section through the forward end of the hood as taken on line 6 6 of Figure 5.

Referring to the suction cleaner ln its general aspects, the same consists of a somewhat shallow body portion or main casing l having a flat top surface and a rounded forward portion identifying the nozzle portion 2 extending `across the forward end thereof. The nozzle portion is provided with a downwardly facing suction mouth Y leading rearwardly through a passage into a fan chamber in which a suction-creating fan 3 is located. The ian chamber opens rearwardly into an exhaust passage which in turn discharges into a. dirt bag 4 having detachable connection with a flange 5 at the extreme vrear end of the exhaust passage. The cleaner is supported on wheels 6 and is maneuvered over the surface by means of a handle l having a U-shaped bail 1a straddling the dome-shaped hood B over the motor 9.

The motor hood consists of an elongated domeshaped cover primarily intended to serve as an enclosure for the motor 9 which is supported rmly on the' main casing with its armature shaft vertical and in direct driving connection with thefan 3.

The motor 9 may be of any standard type sultable for the purpose, although as herein disclosed, it includes an outer shell or frame 9a of cylindric shape forming a substantially complete enclosure for the armature and stator. This cylindric shell or frame is preferably molded of a suitable plastic substance such as Bakelite and otherwise is designed and constructed as to preclude the necessity of an additional enclosure for the motor. except for the external appearance of the cleaner. The dome-like hood 8 is likewise molded of Bakelite and designed to gi've the stream-lined appearance heretofore mentioned, namely, the rounded and almost spherical front end portion gradually converging rearwardly to a comparatively square rear end but maintaining the rounded contour transversely throughout its length as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Referring further to the motor 9, and particularly its mounting upon the top wall of the main casing I, the shell or frame 9a is provided about its bottom edge with suitable supporting feet 9b resting upon the top wall ofthe casing and spaced apart so as to form slots Ill therebetween as clearly shown in Figure 2. These slots open into the lower end of the motor frame allowing air from the surrounding space to pass upwardly through and around the armature and through a horizontal slot formed in the rear wall of the hood immediateLv above the dirt bag supporting connection at the rear end of the main passage l.

But before describing the exhaust passage in Athe motor hood B, attention will first be directed to Figure 3 showing somewhat the complicatedand intricate arrangement of integral webs depending from the inner surface of the top wall of the motor hood B. Thus at the center is a substantially circular web i3 with inwardly pro- Jecting radial segments l3a. This annular web il seats on the motor with its edges bearing against the top surface of the motor frame 9a. Now, the rearmost portion of the annular web I3 has the form of a straight chord-like segment llc and extending rearwardly therefrom with a distinct outward taper or are is a pair of depending webs or Vflanges Il, Il terminating at the opposite rear corners of the hood but arranged slightly unsymmetrlcally with respect to its longitudinal center line as is clearly seen in Figure 3. 'I'hese depending webs Il. Il form the side walls of the exhaust passage for the Ventilating air discharged from the .fan chamber Il at the upper end of the motor frame. Incidentally, this passage is offset from the center line of the hood because the discharge outlet Ila from the ventilating fan chamber I is likewise offset to conform with the tangential direction of the air as it leaves the fan blades.

Now, to complete the ventilating exhaust passage. a light metal plate l5 is fitted over the bottom .edges of the depending webs il, ll, this plate being shaped to conform to the outline of the space included between said webs I4, Il and having at its forward and rear corners enlarged ear-like portions lia registering with pairs of bosses lla and forming an anchorage for a set of retaining screws i6 for the bottom plate I6.

As clearly shown in Figure l. the bottom plate I! forming the exhaust passage assumes an inclined position generally parallel with the downwardly sloping top wall of the motor hood l. but at its front and rear edges it is bent to abut the motor and the rear wall of the hood at right angles respectively, the front edge of the plate coinciding with the lower edge of the outlet `i ia and its rear edge with the bottom of a narrow transverse slot Il. extending substantially the full width of the vertical rear wall of the hood and forming the outlet for the air passage. Immediately above the entrance to the outlet slot I'I is a pair of integral reinforcing webs I8. Il for structural purposes only. and immediately below the slot i1 is a spring latching member I! carried by the exhaust outlet flange i and which serves to hold the hood in place upon the main casing. as will later be described in detail.

And nally to complete the circulatory system for the motor Ventilating air, there is provided along the lower edges of the motor hood B, a pair of elongated inlet slots 20, located on opposite sides of the motor hood and near the rear end thereof. Thus, referring to Figures l and il, it

will be observed by following the arrows indieating the direction of the Ventilating air, that the air is ilrst drawn into the 'hood 8 through the slots 2li along the lower edges thereof, thence into the slots lli around the base of the motor casing, upwardly through the motor and into the v 'nate method of discharging the motor ventilating air is disclosed wherein advantage ls taken of an opening already available at the forward end of the motor hood for the discharge outlet. This opening is the window through which light is thrown from a lamp to illuminate the floor or carpet surface immediately in front of the cleaner. In short. the air outlet from the upper end of the motor casing is directed forwardly instead of rearwardly and into the same chamber which houses the lamp and from whence it passes outwardly through the window.

For this alternative arrangement. the motor I would be identical in every respect, except that Ventilating air chamber Il lat the'top of the motor frame faces forwardly instead of rearwardly. In other words, it can be assumed that either the same motor has beenl turned through an angle of 180 degrees, or that the upper end portion of the motor frame 0a can be turn'ed or rotated through 180 degreels from the rear to the front. f

As for the motor hood, its general shape and construction would be the same as before except that there would be made no provision for the mounting of a separate plate for the formation of a discharge passage, nor would there be an outlet slot formed in the -rear wall of the hood. There would, however. be internal reinforcing webs extending rearwardly from the center of the hood, but these would be merely Afor structural purposes.

Referring now to the internal construction of the hoodthroughout its forward end (and which would be practically the same regardless of the particular method of discharging the motor Ventilating air therefrom). there is formed immedlately above the forward portion of the motor, a transverse extending integral 'web Il having bearing contact with the forward portion of the motor casing 9a just above the discharge outlet from the motor ventilating fan chamber Il. Now, extending forwardly and transversely from the web Il is a pair of wall segments Il. l2'

which are spaced apart on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the hood to i'onn the side walls of the lamp chamber in the forward end of the hood. As clearly shown in Figure 5, these wall segments 22, l2 merge with the transverse web 2i at points offset at different distances from the center line of the hood and for this reason are inclined outwardly at different angles throughout their inner end portions but finally become parallel with each other as they approach the rounded front wall of the hood with which they are integrally molded.

A transversely elongated window opening Il is located at a point substantially one-half of the height of the hood and extends practically the full width of the lamp chamber. A metal reflector 2l is mounted at the front of the motor being suitably attached thereto and consisting of a substantially semi-circular portion 24a facing forwardly somewhat above the level ofy the tion to cover a small area immediately in front of the cleaner.

Thus without elaboratin'g further as to the construction of the lamp chamber and the arrangement of the lamp`therein, it is suiicient to observe that the motor Ventilating air having passed upwardly through the motor in the manner already described. is discharged forwardly into the upper end portion of the lamp chamber, whereupon it follows a downward path, thence finding its way out of the hood through the window 23.

Inasmuch as cleaners of the type herein disclosed are invariably equipped with illuminating head lights at the forward end of the motor hood, the utilization of the lamp chamber and the window affords a natural outlet for the motor Ventilating air and thus obviates the necessity for providing a passage in the hood as in the rst arrangement described. At the same time, each arrangement has its advantages;

Thus, the formation of a separate dischargc passage leading outwardly through the rear end 5,

of the hood may increase slightly the cost of production, it has the advantage of providing an unobstructed passage for the air and one in which dirt will not accumulate readily. On the other hand, the utilization of the lamp chamber affords a somewhat less expensive construction in which the undesirable heat given off by the lamp in operation is removed, but it also has a disadvantage, namely. that dirt particles would tend to be deposited on the lamp and reflecting surfaces and otherwise to accumulate within the lamp chamber. i

In any case, it is quite evident that regardless of the particular point from which the motor Ventilating air is discharged from the hood, the exhaust passage is formed as a part of the hood and so arranged that in its assembly upon the `motor casing, the connection between the exhaust passage and the outlet from the motor casing is established.

To complete the mounting of the hood 8 upon the casing I, mention was made of the spring latch member i9 mounted at the rear of the casing. This latch member is preferably a short strip of spring steel fastened at its lower end to the front face of the upstanding flange 5 at the exhaust outlet connection, midway between its side edges. The upper end of the latch member is bent to form a loop I9a located just below the top edge of the flange 5 andregistering therewith is a detent 2l formed in the outer face of the rear wall of the hood 8 and more particularly, within a shallow U-shaped recess 28 extend vertically and centrally of said rear Wall, as shown in Figure 3. This detent presents an upwardly facing shoulder adapted to' have yielding contact with the underside of the looped end I9a of the latch member i9, so that by first seating the rear end of the hood against the rear flange 5 with the detent 2l beneath the latch member, the front end is then lowered onto the top of the casing and secured by means of a screw 29 which is inserted through a hole in the front lower edge of the hood and registering with a threaded hole in an upstanding bracket 30 mounted on the top face of the casing i just inwardly from the edge of the hood. as shown in Figure 4. The inner face of the hood immediately adjacent the screw fastening is preferably lined with a thin plate 3|.

And to complete the mounting of the hood, a

'metallic band 32 fits around the bottom edge of the hood, being riveted at its rear ends at 32a just forwardly of the exhaust outlet as shown in Figure 4. This band is not removable but is free'to slide upwardly at the front of the hood, so that the screw 29 is accessible-for removing the hood. And finally, the bend 32 is slotted to register with the inlet openings 20.

This method of mounting the hood is comparatively simple and yet is firm, vibratonless. and readily removable.

Having set forth a complete disclosure of my invention, I now claim:

1. In a suction cleaner, the combination with a main casing including suction-creating means, of a, motor supported upon said casing and operatively connected with said suction-creating means, said motor being provided with ventilating means including air inlet and outlet openings at opposite ends thereof, and a hood enclosing said motor provided with a passageway formed by integral wall segments and having an opening at one end adapted to register with the outlet opening of said motor and communieating at its other end with an opening through said hood.

2. In a suction cleaner, the combination with a main casing including suction-creating means, of a motor supported upon said casing and having operative connection with said suction-creating means, said motor having a frame provided with air inlet and outlet openings adjacent opposite ends thereof and means for creating a ow of air .through said motor for Ventilatingl purposes, a hood enclosing said motor and having a discharge passageway for the motor ventilating air and comprising wall segments integral with the inner wall surface of the hood and adapted to connect the outlet opening from said motor with a discharge opening in said hood.

3. In a suction cleaner, the combination oi a casing including suction-creating means, an electric motor mounted upon said casing and having driving connection with said suctioncreating means, said motor having a substantially imperforate frame provided with an air inlet and outlet openings at its opposite ends and means for creating a current of air therethrough, and a hood enclosing said motor and a substantial space surrounding the same and having a motor ventilating air discharge passage formed by wall segments enclosing a space along the internal surface of said hood and connecting the outlet opening of said motor frame with an opening in said hood.

4. In a suction cleaner, the combination with a casing including suction-creating means, an electric motor supported upon said casing and having driving connection with said suctioncreating means, said motor having a substantially enclosed frame with an air inlet and outlet openlng at its base and top respectively, and a hood enclosing said motor and a substantial space about the same, said hood having openings communicating with the space enclosed thereby and an` air passage extending along 4the inner surface thereof and formed by integral spaced parallel wall segments and a transverse wall segment, said passage connecting the outlet opening from said motor frame with an outlet opening in the wall of said hood.

5. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a main casing including suction-creating means, a motor supported upon said casing and having a direct driving connection with said suction-creating means, a hood supported upon said casing and enclosing said motor, said motor being adapt ed to have a current of air lmpelled axially thereof and to be discharged through an opening at its top, said hood being provided with an air outlet opening in its side wall anda passage connecting. said air outlet opening with the discharge opening from said motor, and consisting oi a pair of spaced webs integral with the inner surface of said hood and a bottom wall segment extending transversely between `said webs.

6. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a main casing including suction-creating means and provided with a `iiat top surface, a motor supported upon said casing and having driving connection with said suction-creating means, said motor having a substantially closed frame adapted to have a current of air impelled vertically therethrough and to be discharged through a laterally facing opening directed toward one end of said hood. the latter being provided with air inlet openings adjacent its base. an air outlet opening in one end wall thereof and a motor Ventilating air discharge passage adapted to'connect said air outlet opening and the discharge opening at the upper end of said motor frame and comprising a pair of spaced webs integral with the inner sur'- iace oi said hood and a metal plate forming the bottom wall thereof.

7. In a suction cleaner, the combination o! a casing having a nozzle. motor-driven suctioncreating means including a motor supported upon said casing and comprising a frame having an inlet opening at its base and an outlet opening adjacent its top for the circulation o! Ventilating air` therethrough, air-moving means to draw air through said casing. a hood Yenclosing said motor and forming a chamber at its forward end adiacent said nozzle adaptedto house a lamp. a lamp positioned in said chamber, said chamber being connected with the outlet opening from `said motor frame and having an opening at its-bottom for the discharge of the air to the atmosphere and for light rays from said lamp.

8. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a 'casing having a nozzle. motor-driven suctioncreating means including a motor supported upon said casing and comprising a frame having openings at its opposite ends for the circulation of Ventilating air therethrough, a hood enclosing said motor and forming a closed chamber at one of said openings rearwardly oi and above said nozzle, a lamp in said chamber, said chamber being formed with an exterior opening facing forwardly and toward said nozzle to permit the passage of Ventilating air and light rays therethrough, and a Ventilating fan to draw a stream oi' air through said frame and chamber to cool said motor and said light. 9. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a casing having a nozzle, motor-driven suctioncreating means including a motor supported upon said casing and formed with a Ventilating air inlet opening and an outlet opening, a lamp mounted'relative to said nozzle as to throw light rays forwardly thereof and beingpositioned adjacent one otsaid openings in said motor, and air-#moving means to move air through said inlet and exhaust it through said outlet, said air in its movement passing over said lamp in its position adjacent one of said openings to remove the heat generated in the operation thereof.

10. In a suction cleaner, the combination o! a casing having a nozzle, motor-driven suctioncreating means including a motor supported upon -said casing and formed with a Ventilating air lnlet atone .end and an outlet at the other end. a lamp mounted relative to said nozzle as to throw light rays forwardly thereof and positionedadjacent one of said openings and said motor, and alrmoving means positioned in said frame to move air through said inlet and exhaust it through said outlet and over said lamp in the sequence stated to remove the heat generated in the operation thereof.

i l WILLIAM H. KI'I'IO.

Disclaimer Re. 22,077.W^liam H. Kitto, Canton, Ohio. SUCTION CLEANER. Patent. dated Apr. 21, 1942. Disclaimer led May 11, 1948, by the assignee, The Hoover Company.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 7, 8, 9, and 10 of said patent.

[Official Gazette June 8, 1.948.] 

